How Far Can A Ham Radio Transmit (Part I) 160M, 80M & 40M | SHTF Emergency Communication 

I used to listen to all sorts of AM radios. I had a small one with an internal antenna. I remember hearing XEROK on 800 kc. Loud rock. Then a loud station near there on Bonaire. It was unreal. I was hooked! It still fascinates me! Cheers Thor!

👀 sighted my Viking Friend and wishing him a nice Weekend 🙋‍♂

Me too

I've never counted all the stations. I've always tried to see how many states I could hear. I like the count of stations. I need to do that next winter. Thanks for an awesome idea! Cheers James!

Thanks for the kind words! I appreciate them! If you have ideas for other videos, let me know. I'm not a technical guy so it's easy to speak simply! Thanks again for watching and your kind words! Cheers!

@@TheOldSwedesFarm Hey Rich - if you are looking for some video ideas to expand on what you have done so far - I am quite new and so far I have heard a lot about making contacts and all the areas that can be reached and the mechanics of doing so. This might be further down the SHTF rabbit hole than you want, and no problem if so - but my question is around how you would actually make SHTF contacts, maybe before, maybe after, how would you find information (realizing it could be non-truthful). Making a lot of contest contacts I agree it's valuable to test and practice, but what is the reality on the ground? Do you monitor a frequency so that people you know and maybe trust can reach you? do you have contacts that do the same on their side? Things go sideways, making random contacts will be possible but this seems to fall short. Who (not asking for a name, just examples) would you contact, what information might you seek. IS there anyone you have a agreed frequency and time period think (3-3-3). Thanks again for such easy to watch content.

@@carbonoverland1995 This is a great idea. Let me think about how to present this. I realize that if SHTF, there may be a lot of disinformation and misinformation. You may not know who to trust. To be honest, I have a few guys who are local (25-50 miles), who I know well and we have an agreed upon frequency and time to meet, several times each day, in case there is an emergency. I know I can trust them for good info and we will help each other. I know others in many areas of the world (and around the US) that I trust and know. I do not have an agreed upon set of times and freqs. I should probably set something with them, just in case. This is a great topic and probably something that most people are not thinking about. Let me think about this and see if I can come up with a good way to present this. Thanks for the great idea! Cheers!

@@TheOldSwedesFarm Sounds good thanks. Main thing is not around who to trust - that is the individuals problem - but instead how to actually raise someone you are looking for or maybe trying to find some information of some kind. What frequencies would you try, etc.. I am assuming you have heard of 3-3-3. That is pretty easy but means you already need a group and whatever channel 3 is needs to be agreed ahead of time. Thanks!

@@carbonoverland1995 You really need to talk with people ahead of time so you know where to be. My local friends know that, should something happen, we would meet on a certain frequency at the top of the hour at certain hours of the day. I need to line up something like this with people further away. I need to work on this and have some schedules set with people further. Thanks for bringing this up! Cheers!

Thanks for stopping by to watch and comment! Merry Christmas to you and your family! 73 Matthias!

​@@TheOldSwedesFarmThank you so much! Merry Christmas to you and your family also 🍀🎶

Thanks for the kind words. I'm not technical, so maybe that's why people like this. I love the hobby and love sharing it. Let me know if you have other ideas for videos. Thanks again for stopping by! Hope to catch you on the air soon! 73 James!

@@TheOldSwedesFarm looking forward to your vhf, uhf video

@@jamesmitchell8713 I've already got two VHF videos out. Check out my ham radio playlist. There is one video on VHF propagation and one on 2 meter aurora. Let me know if you can't find them. 73!

Evening is the time to the Pacific and Australia. Lots of Pacific this past weekend on the CQ Worldwide DX CW Contest. Lots of fun and over 100 countries worked here! 73!

Most people have a relative who was/is active. It used to be someone's old uncle who was a ham. Now I'm the old uncle! Cheers Lisa!

There is a whole world out ther.....and you can talk to it!! Good luck with your ham test. You'll do it! Let me know if I can help! Let me know if you have ideas for other videos. Good luck & 73!!

@@TheOldSwedesFarm I haven't watched everything you have and there could be something there, but from my limited knowledge - even before I take the test, there seems to be a huge userbase on HF. It would be good to see a video of radio offerings for transmitting in this range. Also, anything needed to step into that. Like I said, I've only operated on VHF with public safety. I have two baofeng UV-5Rs and also a Baofeng UV-17R tri band, but these either don't work or are not ideal for HF. I think I may be able to hear HF on the UV-17R, but haven't looked close enough at it yet. I got them to tinker with and learn CHIRP. Not sure what options are out there for HF as far as radios - both HT or base station type, and even building a simple antenna system would be awesome. by the way, HAM test scheduled for next weekend!

I hope you'll get your license and you can enjoy this great hobby! Please share this series with your prepper group. It will help them know what frequencies will help them in a SHTF situation. Cheers Jen!

@@TheOldSwedesFarm you bet!

I was on the air over the weekend (when I filmed this). I talked to several hams in Alberta on 40M. Later in the day, 20 meters would be best. I'll cover that frequency in the next video. Thanks for watching!

They really work! I'm always surprised at the results when I'm out mobile. Check out my video for the Minnesota QSO Party. My entire station is a hamstick and my 991A in my car. The results are incredible! 73!

I'm not an FT8 guy but the bands have been alive lately. I contest a bunch and worked over 125 unique countries in the CQWW CW Contest. What a fun weekend! Enjoy the bands! 73!

Our local station on 830 went off the air once (decades ago) and I heard WBAP. I hear KRLD often. Strong signal! Thanks for stopping by Scott!

73's from Big D

I had all sorts of wires running around my backyard while I was growing up. Loved listening to the AM radio and seeing how far I could hear! So much fun. I still like AM DXing. Take care!

I love the contesting and it's a great "test" for an emergency. Last weekend, I operated in a contest. In 24 hours, I talked to all 50 states and over 50 countries. A great test of my gear, antennas and my ability to communicate quickly to all those stations. You might want to think of the contests as a great opportunity to test your gear. I hope to have more antenna videos in the future! Cheers!

Thanks for stopping by Thor! Appreciate the support!

You need to get on HF. The bands have been great with all the sunspots. For mobile AND home work, I really enjoy my Yaesu FT991A. You can see it in action on my Minnesota QSO Party pile-up video. I was just running the 991 into a small mobile while on the roof of my car. The 991 really performs! If you've got further questions, let me know. 73!

Thanks for watching and thank you for stopping by! Cheers!

There are a number of homesteaders, chicken owners, etc. who are hams. We should be able to make the distance with no problems. Early in my morning, or late in the afternoon, is usually great conditions from here to Australia. It should not be a problem! Let me know when you want to try! 73!

I look forward to talking with you! I hope we can connect on 10 or 15M. The sunspot cycle is helping us now! 73!

Thanks! Glad I hit the spot!! If you've got ideas for other videos, let me know. Cheers!

Thank you for stopping by to watch and to comment! We appreciate your support! Cheers!

Thank you for stopping by to watch and comment! We appreciate your support! Happy New Year!

Thanks for joining us on our channel! More radio videos to come. If you have ideas for content you'd like to see, let me know! Cheers!

@@TheOldSwedesFarm Sure thing.

A simple set of dipoles should be able to get you 200 miles. This antenna is 72 feet tall. It's available from DX Engineering. I have 60 radials going out in all directions (evenly). I mowed the lawn really short and then stapled them to the ground. The concrete base is four feet deep and two feet square. There is crushed rock below that. I hope that helps. Cheers!

Thanks for watching and commenting! Cheers!

I hope to have the next video out later this week. Thanks for stopping by to watch! Cheers!

The hens are always around and willing to give their opinion on anything! I had to cut one attempt at a video as they were way too loud! Thanks for stopping by to watch and comment! Cheers!

Glad this was helpful. If you have other ideas for videos, let me know. Cheers!

Congrats on the new licenses (and the upgrade!)! The 991 is a great rig for all around operating. I love it as my VHF rig and for mobile use. If I can help you in any way, let me know. 73 & again, CONGRATS on the licenses!

A G5RV is sure an all-around antenna! Easy to use and it works so well! You've got a winner! Cheers!

Thanks for watching! I've had so many requests for this. I wanted to keep it simple and easy to follow. Thanks again!

I'll have a couple more videos with higher frequencies. Thanks for watching and commenting! Cheers!

It's always fun to listen to distant stations! I loved (and still do) listening to distant AM stations! Radio is so fun! Cheers and good luck on the license!

Thanks for watching and commenting! 73 Uncle Gunter!

When you're on the low bands (40, 80 & 160M) the D-layer really comes into play. You need to find a time when both stations are in the dark. It can be a challenge to talk to people halfway around the globe. There might only be an hour (or less) where you are both in the dark. It really makes it memorable when you finally find the right conditions (and time) and you make it happen! I've heard stations at a long distance and heard them fade out as their sunrise hits and the D-layer starts to form. This is the fun of ham radio and the fun/challenge of the low bands! 73!

I really like the Yaesu 991A for a rig for HF and VHF. It's got a lot of features in a small package. Keep me posted on what rig you get! 73!

There are different contests. Some are international and some are domestic. Basically, you get points for each contact made. Those contact points are then multiplied by the number of countries you talk to (or states, etc.) for a final score. It's fun as you see how good an operator you are and how good your station is. I hope that makes sense. They are a lot of fun!

73! Thanks for stopping by to watch and comment!

Antennas need to be a certain size so they "tune" up properly. To get more signal out, I'd need to add another antenna nearby and send a signal out on both. So two verticals, a certain distance apart, fed with two feedlines. It's fairly complicated. I'll stick to a single antenna for each frequency! Thanks for stopping by!

@@TheOldSwedesFarm because of you, I'm noticing lots of hams while driving through the county 🤜🤛

Thanks for stopping by to watch! We appreciate the support!

Check out DX Engineering and look at their mobile antennas. MFJ three-magnet base and hamsticks. Let me know if you don't find what you need.

I always laugh when I hear their call. It is unfortunate! 73!

You'll have to tell me what bands you're thinking of. Maybe I can pull together a video on antennas for certain bands. Thanks for watching Bob! 73!

Trying to keep anonymous on these videos. My call is mentioned on my Minnesota QSO Party pile-up video. For the most part, trying to fly below the radar. Hope this makes sense! 73!

It depends on where you want to talk and the conditions (not a good answer). I like to work long distances. The vertical, with the radials under it, gives a low angle of take-off for the signal. This is usually best for long distance communications. At some times, a dipole can be really good too. I like the vertical as it works in all directions. A dipole will usually have two lobes that are favored in two directions (perpendicular to the dipole). I love the HF2V vertical that I have. The best world would be to have a dipole AND the vertical! Hope that helps a little and isn't too cryptic of an answer.

@@TheOldSwedesFarm Thanks. Trying to decide which way to go. I'd like to be able to do local comms and also DX. So, like you said, probably gonna have to do both:) As soon as I get my general that is.

This is a topic that not many homesteaders will cover! I'm unique in my hobbies. Have a great week Wendy!

@@TheOldSwedesFarm very unique and necessary. I am thankful you shared